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Are New Yorkers Rude?

April 23, 2008 RH 2 Comments

Why does everyone think New Yorkers are rude? I beg to differ. We just tell it like it is. If we want something, we ask for it. We don’t stand around like schmucks waiting for it to happen.I get frustrated after spending time down in the city and then returning upstate. Especially when I’m driving. People don’t know how to drive in Beacon! Hey, if someone is in your way, you need to honk, goddammit!When I visit the in-laws in Ireland, they think I’m a nuts. This is a country full of alcoholics and people with ulcers because they keep things to themselves. They would prefer to suffer through an uncomfortable existence rather than hurt someone’s feelings. Screw that! I’m not gonna freeze my ass off because you think 50 degrees is comfortable.So, no, I don’t think New Yorkers are rude. I think we’re the only normal ones on the planet. Everybody else sucks.

Rent-A-Dog

April 1, 2008 RH

I can’t remember a time in my life that I didn’t have a pet (or several) in my home. My mother and I took in cats when I was young. My brother was more of a turtle, tarantula, iguana type of guy. Interesting…he’s still alittle, um, “eccentric”. When I travel without my pets I miss them terribly. And if there’s a cat or dog at the place I’m staying, I tend to temporarily adopt them.

Now there’s hope for people like me. No, it’s not “Animal Rescuers Anonymous”. It’s Flexpet. People who don’t have time to care for a full time pet can rent a companion when they need to. The trained and healthy rescue dogs are between 3-5 years of age and can be adopted if you’ve fallen in love. Membership of $279.95 contributes towards full care of all the dogs. Steep, I know, but that’s one visit to the vet for me.

The “Canine Ambassador Program” is offered to hospitality businesses. Hotels can have dogs meet, greet and walk with folks like me who get lonely on vacation.

Flexpet has locations in NYC and LA and has many other cities in the works, both in the US and abroad.

Mother in law with allergies coming to visit? Rent a pet! Need a pick up aide? Rent a dog! Want to push out annoying roommates or tenants? Rent a loud yappy mutt!

Via NY Times

Weekend Planning Resources

March 27, 2008 RH

Yeah, I like to travel BIG just as much as anyone. But sometimes an overseas vacation is more stressful than it’s worth. That’s why I’m a huge fan of local travel. Just go. Get out of the city for a few days. No better way to relax. Instead of my usual “Weekender” post, I’ll let you do your own research. Here are some planning resources for ya….

GORP covers the great outdoors. The site lists activities on Long Island, in NJ and Upstate. For those of you who can’t get away, there are resources for biking, kayaking and horseback riding right in the city.

EscapeMaker isn’t greatly informative, but it does cover lots of ground. A nice place to start before narrowing down where it is you want to go.

I Love NY. Who doesn’t?

Discover Long Island here.

And New Jersey here.

Retreats for the highly stressed.

Or follow the culture.

Parent Zone has a nice guide for child friendly weekend trips.

And Blue Sky Dogs is a travel agent. For dogs.

Cyberrentals and VRBO are THE two vacation rental sites. Filter by price, kids, pets, area, etc.

Have fun!

NYC Eats: Old Standbys

March 18, 2008 RH 3 Comments

Cafe Reggio, 1975. Huggy Bear and Chris Walkin

New York has changed so much over the last few years that I sometimes don’t recognize my own city. Having spent most of my 42 years here, I’ve seen the demise of lots of wonderful restaurants. It’s good to know that some of them still exist. Here’s a list of my favorite food sources. Old standbys that have stood the test of time. Oh yeah, FYI: I’m a vegetarian, so these aren’t fleshy places.

1. Still the best cheap eats: Dojo’s West , W 4th

Yeah, I know what you’re saying. “But they shut down Dojo’s on St Marks because they were filthy.” You know what? I ate there every day for about 3 years and I’m still alive. Anyway, this is Dojo’s WEST. Where else can you get an entire meal for under $10? They have not raised their prices since 1985. I shit you not.

2. Best Bagel: Bagel Hole, Park Slope

That’s right! Anyone got a problem with that? With the exception of that place near the Avenue M train station in Midwood whose name I can’t remember, this is the real deal. Anyone who likes those big stupid fluffy bagels can kiss my big fat Jewish ass.

3. Best Knish: Yonah Schimmel, Lower East Side

There’s actually a better place on the Coney Island boardwalk, but I can’t remember their name. And I don’t even know if they’re still open. Not Mrs. Stahls. Anyway, Yonah’s is not too shabby.

4. Best Dim Sum: Vegetarian Dim Sum House, Chinatown

Awesome. Inexpensive. Dim Sum or full menu. You don’t have to be a vegetarian to love this joint!

5. Best Fresh Mozzarella: Russo’s ,Park Slope

I say this because A) I love their cheese and B) It’s rennetless. (only concerns you if you’re a strict vegetarian) Also, Russo’s has great everything else!

6. Best specialty grocery: Sahadi’s, Atlantic Avenue

Since I don’t cook, I only partake in the deli counter. Their veggie stuffed cabbage is awesome and the fried cauliflower is to die for! Actually, everything they do is delicious. You haven’t lived if you’ve never been to Sahadi’s. Word.

7. Best Indian Buffet: Jackson Diner, Jackson Heights

Apologies to Queens people (and the other boros) but I grew up in Brooklyn and frequented Manhattan, so it’s all I know. I do know a good Indian meal when I eat one and the Jackson Diner is worth the trip!

8. Best Italian: Red Rose, Smith Street

Ok, they aren’t the best around anymore, but I just can’t give up on them. The Red Rose was the greatest family restaurant that ever lived. They changed their menu and style with the Smith Street gentrification and although their food is still superior, they are merely a shell of what they used to be.

9. Best Russian: Primorksi, Brighton Beach

Is the food good? I can’t remember. The vodka flows like water and the music doesn’t stop. This is a night out, not just a meal. Long tables shared with Russians who don’t speak English. But that doesn’t matter. They’ll grab you for a dance anyway. So much fun, I had to get married here.

10. Best Eastern European: Odessa, East Village

There are so many great Polish and Eastern European restaurants in the East Village and Greenpoint, but Odessa is still my favorite. Probably because it’s inexpensive. Probably because it’s the last one left out of that Leshko’s, Kiev, Odessa triangle. But mostly because it’s good food.

11. Best Cafe: Cafe Reggio, MacDougal Street

I know. It’s a tourist spot. But I still like it. I can sit there for hours (as if I had the time) sipping my coffee, listening to music, looking at the artwork, watching the people. With all of our coffee houses in NYC, we don’t have too many European style cafes.

12. Best Vegetarian Splurge: Hangawi, Little Korea

It’s not cheap, but it’s such a great place to go for dinner. I wish I could take my shoes off and sit on the floor in every restaurant. The food is incredible. I love this place! Tip: great date restaurant.

I still have a whole list of diners. I’ll get to that tomorrow!

Please post your own suggestions in the comments so I can have more places to love!

The Art Hotel: Carlton Arms, NYC

March 6, 2008 RH

Photos by Darek Solarski

I came across a funky fantasy hotel on Blog Like You Give A Damn, but it was in the Midwest. So I did a little search of theme hotels closer to home and came up with one right here in NY.

I’ve heard of The Carlton Arms and I think I even know someone who stayed there once (my couch must’ve been booked). What I didn’t realize is that it’s so cool inside. Not only are the walls covered with colorful murals, this is a budget hotel. With rates starting at $80 per night, what cheap ass relative would pass this up? (My relatives, that’s who)

The Gramercy Park 54 room hotel has been around for about 100 years. Original clientele included out of state farmers and businessmen who parked their horses in the carriage barn next door.

During prohibition, the Carlton lobby acted as a speak-easy with gambling taking place in the upstairs rooms. It became a respectable hotel again for a while until the 50’s when it became a hang out for drag queens, prostitutes and drug addicts. Not that drag queens can’t be respectable.

Like so many other NYC buildings, including my own, The Carlton became an SRO during the 60’s. By the 80’s, it had hit rock bottom, with a steady clientele of pushers, junkies and nut jobs.

Ed Ryan took over the place when the owner had a mental breakdown. As rooms vacated, he cleaned them up and rented them to travelers looking for inexpensive lodging. In 1983, front desk clerk, artist Gil Dominguez painted a series of murals. Other artists came and followed suit in the rooms.

John Ogren and Ty Inwood took over the hotel in 1998. Now it’s mostly young European and Asian hipsters staying there.

Vintage NYC Images

February 25, 2008 RH 2 Comments

Construction Workers on Crossbeam, 1932

As a follow up to Friday’s photo post, I’d like to share some of my favorite moments of NYC’s history captured on film.

If you’re thinking of something to hang on your wall and not worried about investment value, the Library of Congress is a great resource, as I mentioned in the last post. The NY Times Store also sells fiber based prints starting at under $200.

There was a time I thought I was the reincarnation of Weegee. To this day, he’s on my top 3 photographers list. His images captured the raw, “naked” streets of NYC during the 40’s. Arthur Fellig got the name Weegee (Ouija) due to his arrival on the scene moments after the tragedy occurred. His car was equipped with a police scanner and darkroom. Some say Weegee’s pictures were set up. “The Critic”, above, was actually a set up. Weegee got the broad on the right drunk at a Bowery bar and set her loose on the two society dames. It was planned but it wasn’t posed.

This gal is brave! Although Margaret Bourke-White is the one credited with this image (that’s her atop the Chrysler), it was her assistant, Oscar Graubner who snapped the shot. But MBW was no slouch. The premier issue of Life magazine featured one of her images. She was also the first western photographer to go to the Soviet Union.

Erwitt is alive and well and (I think) still living in NYC. He’s the guy with all of those dog images. Probably his most famous one is the little Chihuahua at the feet of a Great Dane. “NY Pug” is more of a NY stoop scene that it is about the dogs, which is why I chose it for both this post and my wall. Yeah, it was one of my splurges.

The Flatiron is by far my favorite building in NYC. And this Edward Steichen photo, shot in 1904 is my favorite image of it. Steichen added color to the platinum print by using layers of pigment suspended in a light-sensitive solution of gum arabic and potassium bichromate. Take that, you digital photographers! If I ever develop the time or patience, I would love to take a course in old printing methods.

Gordon Parks died about 2 years ago at the age of 93. He grew up in a poverty stricken home in segregated Kansas and went on to become an award winning photographer, writer and film maker, paving the way for other African American artists. He was the first black photographer at Life magazine. FYI, Did you know he directed “Shaft“?

This image, taken in 1948, features sixteen-year-old Red Jackson, the leader of one of the toughest gangs in New York. After gaining the trust of the Harlem gang, Parks spent some time photographing them. Forty years later, Parks ran into Jackson at Penn Station. What happened? Ah, you have to read his book to find out.

Ok, the tour ends here. I have so many more, but I can be here for weeks. Let me know if this is of interest to you. If not, I’ll stop boring you with it.

What $300k Buys You In & Out of NYC

February 20, 2008 RH

$289k: Upper West Side Studio

Let’s start with Manhattan. Broadway at 107th Street…awesome! Doesn’t give the square footage of this coop, but I’m assuming it’s the size of a closet. Not a walk in closet. But hey, if you just need a place to crash, this is it! I’m lovin’ this chick’s website. Adina! Is she a broker or a teen idol?

$ 300k: Ft Hamilton: 920 Sq ft, 2 BR coop

Looks like a nice renovation. They fixed up, but left some retro details. Advice to agent: Remove the litter box from the photo before taking picture. Maintenance of $668 includes gas, heat, water and tax.

$ 300k: Jersey City: 4 Family in need of TLC

The bad news is: This house hasn’t been touched for years. The good news is: This house hasn’t been touched for years. From the one interior shot it looks like there may be some detail left. Do I wear rose colored glasses or what?

$299900: Mt Vernon 3 Family

I’m drooling over this one! 3 Family, 2600 sq ft home built in 1928. Needs total rehab. Fire damage. It looks so sad and forgotten, but I see the inner beauty. Come to mamma, I’ll save you!

$297900: Beacon 2 Family

Hmm, not bad. Two 2 BR units with a little backyard. No interior shots. It’s on the “mountain side” of town as opposed to the “river side” which means nice views, pleasant area…..far walk to train.

Stan The Junk Man

February 14, 2008 RH 1 Comment

Zaborski Emporium in Kingston is the megastore of salvage. 25,000 square feet of old house parts. You could get lost in that place! No seriously, I get lost in there.

Although Stan has been in the salvage business since 1976, the building on Hoffman Street was completely empty when he purchased it 10 years ago. He managed to fill it up quite nicely in that time. He used to know every piece of inventory, but jokes that he can’t remember now because of his drinking. Yeah, you’d have to be friggen Rain Man to know every artifact in that place!

Stan’s father, Stan, a Brooklyn native, owned a bakery until the early 60’s when supermarkets started to sell baked goods. His business began to suffer. To add insult to injury, the bakery was next door to an auction house. At the end of the day, Stan Sr. would be walking out with $48 compared to the auctioneer’s $15k.

The salvage business actually started with toys. Little Stanley Jr. (That’s present day Stan. Are you still with me?) would bring home toy trains and small objects that they would display for sale at the bakery. Eventually, the toys sold better than the pastries and so a new family business was born.

These days Stan has to be more selective with what he takes in, because apparently, that 25,000 square feet of space is not enough. They get their pieces from other dealers, house clean-outs and people phoning in. Customers include renovators from NYC, CT and MA. They do a decent business with the movie industry. They will only sell outright, no prop rentals. Zaborski furnishings and fixtures have been featured in films such as “American Gangster”, “The Manchurian Candidate”, “Charlotte’s Web” and “Revolutionary Road”.

When I asked if he has seen more business since the whole green building movement took off, he informed me that building salvage was the original green. I agree.

Business had slowed down for Stan during the holiday season this year. But they’re having a good February even with the tanking economy and housing market.

Zaborski Emporium is a family run business. If you’ve ever been, that’s wife Sandy sitting behind the desk in the warm office. And sons Steve and Devlin, who work there, will take over the business when Stan has had enough.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering….that’s brother Gary at the Stan’z on Ulster Avenue.

If you’re planning a visit, call first and dress warm!

Cool Homes For Under A Million

January 23, 2008 RH

$299k: Accord, NY Earth Sheltered Dome

$550k: Peggy Atwood’s Monolithic Dome, Kerhonkson

$565k: Landmarked in Staten Island

$700k: Circa 1760 Home in Newburgh

$850k: Saratoga Stone Stable

Building Materials Reuse Association

January 16, 2008 RH 4 Comments

BMRA is not for profit educational and research group whose goal is to encourage the reuse of building materials during deconstruction. It is a membership based group that brings together demolition companies and recycling organizations.

So what does that mean for the homeowner? Well, the site lists state by state directories of members and non members in the business. This includes salvage companies, reclaimed lumber and demolition services.

New York
New Jersey
Connecticut

Immigration on the Lower East Side

January 11, 2008 RH

This week the City Room had the Tenement Museum respond to questions on the history of immigration on the Lower East Side. Personally, I’m fascinated by this since both sides of my family emigrated from Russia around the same time. Since this is a New York blog and I’m looking for a quickie Friday post, I figured I’d share my Lower East Side family history with you (mother’s side).

I’m totally cheating on this post. Back in October, an immigration question was posted on the Brownstoner Forum and I responded. I’m a cuttin’ and a pastin’. Hey, I wrote it! Well, I took notes from Aunt Elaine. Continue reading Immigration on the Lower East Side

The NYC Native Tourist Guide

December 27, 2007 RH 3 Comments

Since I’m in holiday mode and you probably are too, I figured I’d give you some ideas on where to send your out of town guests this year. Or just go yourself. It’s not mandatory to take a tourist.

* Not necessarily in order of preference.

1. The Met: My favorite museum in the world. Probably because I worked there for 3 years. They’re open on Mondays for holidays including New Year’s Eve. On Friday and Saturday evenings they are open until 9pm and have cocktails and music in the Great Hall. The Met has “suggested” admission. Not that you shouldn’t support the arts, but if you’re broke, you can pay a penny and get in. Cost covers same day admission to The Cloisters, which I highly recommend seeing also.Continue reading The NYC Native Tourist Guide

New York’s Ethnic Neighborhoods

December 17, 2007 RH 1 Comment

Interesting series of Q&A on The NY Time’s City Room last week. Joseph Berger, a an education and regional columnist for The New York Times took questions on NYC’s ethnic and immigrant neighborhoods.

Some highlights:

Favorite Italian neighborhood: Bensonhurst, because real Italians live there. He says the Little Italys of Manhattan and the Bronx have Italian shops and restaurants, but few actual Italians. The population of Bensonhurst is shifting too, as working class families are sending their children to better schools and when the children return, concrete yards just ain’t good enough for them. The Chinese, who have an appreciation of rowhouses, are replacing the Italians. Bensonhurst is a quick subway ride to Sunset Park’s Chinatown.Continue reading New York’s Ethnic Neighborhoods

Town House Living: It’s Torture

December 10, 2007 RH 5 Comments

NY Times revealed the pain and suffering behind owning a town house in the city. “Town House Living: The Untold Story” a gripping exposé of whiny ass rich folks who can’t do anything for themselves left me saying “WTF?”

The Manhattan town house owners interviewed complained of vertical living challenges and the fact that they actually had to maintain their own homes.

A 30 something couple had diaper changing stations installed on every floor and doubled up on kitchens, laundry rooms and espresso machines because they couldn’t handle the stairs. I wonder how much they pay for their gym membership.

One woman complained “You have no idea how much the garbage controls your life”. She spoke of the street people rifling through her trash leaving an “ungodly” mess. Another gentleman wakes up at (gasp) 6am three days a week to haul his own trash to the curb. And on top of that, he has to clean the front of his house. The horror.Continue reading Town House Living: It’s Torture

Inwood Rentals: Under $1000

November 16, 2007 RH

I’m shaking things up a bit this week. I wanted to see if Manhattan rentals exist for under $1000. Well, the listings exist, but I haven’t looked into whether or not these places are just bait. I also don’t know the area well enough to know if they are in a crappy section.

Here’s a good classified section for more listings.

$995: 1 BR

$1000: 1 BR

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